Soap lather dispenser



IFeb. 7, 1933. H. w. HoLLANDs SOAP LATHER DISPENSER Filed June 27, 1929 Z W 2 ADJ :0J N N H F f W a f 2 T H W N w H M p m f mfw/ H W 6 il.

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PATENT oFFlcE ASSIGNOB T0 TEE PULLIAN 0l CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0I' ILLINOIS son Lamm ummm muuu. nea Jue a1, 1an. sei-m n. uuu.

The invention relates to a soap lather disdevice in which the lather is produced rom liquid soap supplied to the dispenser fmm an overhead reservoir connected by conduitsleading to the bottom of the dispenr mounted upon a washstand. The dispenser consists essentially of a body portion carrying a delivery spout and a lower valve housi portion connecting the supply conduit with the body, and comprises respectively, an air pump and a liquid pump, with separate pamages communicating with each of said pumps, and lather generating means within the delivery spout.

Heretofore, in devices designed for the purpose of producing and dis soap lather, the lather was generated by agltating a. mixture of soap and water by the passage of an air stream under pressure through the volume of liquid until the bubbles generated attained such size as to come in contact with screens or other foraminous Walls Within the liquid chamber, and broken up to be subsequently delivered to other screen like if walls which further reduced the size of the bubbles, process of b down the bubbles being repeated to form lather which iued fromthe dispenser under air pressure.

Other devices utilized tatiug the liquid contents and provided separate for forcing the bubbles generated through screens for reducing the me of the bubbles, until a mass of lather suitable for use had been generated and forced by the air through a suitable spout when a supply of lather was desired. These methods were crude, unsatisfactory and unsanitary, since the devices used 3 for this purpose were either too bulky for f general use, and therefore too costly, or the a plunger for agicf these dispensrs alr pressure means mechanism involved in their manufacture,

too complicated, requiring expensive maintenance and constant supervision, and fref quent overhauling, and because of the general lack of means to prevent leakage of the contents into the bowl of the Vwashstand or about the base of the device itself.

It is the object of this invention to over- 53 come the objections above noted, to matestantaneously by the pressure of the hand upon a conveniently positioned plunger head on the device.

A furtherY and important object is to provide means contained the delivery spout of the device for generating lather by the united action of liquid soap and air entering the spout and delivered directly to the lather generating means.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates a device built in accordance with the invention and mounted upon a wa shstand Figure 2 is a modification of the air pump head shown in Figure 1, with the air port open; and

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the air pump head with the air port closed.

In the drawing, represents a. washstand upon which is mounted the body 11 of the dispenser into the bottom of which is tapped the supply conduit portion 12 connecting the dispenser with a suitable liquid soap reservoir positioned upon an adjacent wall at a level above the dispenser and adapted to deliver soap by pressure of the liquid head in the reservoir, the supply conduit portion being threaded to receive a securing nut 13 adapte to support the dispenser in position upon the washstand through the medium of a spacing thimble 14 as indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, or in any other approved fashion. A suitable nipple 15 connecting the supply line to the conduit portion 12 is held in communication with the conduit by means of cup nut 16 threaded upon the conduit beneath the nut 13 as shown in figure to insure a liquid tight joint in the supply line. The body 11 is formed with an outwardly and downwardly projecting spout portion 17 adapted to receive and house a lather generating means 18, preferably in the form of a sponge, or

7 3G of the plunger.

other` liquid absorbing and retaining means, although other lather developin means may be substituted such as minera wool, steel wool, or other substances containing a large percentage of small cavities, but 1n view of the desirable characteristics inherent 1n the sponge substance, that material is indicated for the purpose stated.

The sponge material lends itself admirably to the production of lather generated from liquid soap and air delivered directly to the sponge itself, and within the limits of which the entire lather producing operation is performed. By the direct application of liquid and air under pressure to a sponge of animal, mineral, or vegetable origin, or any other permeable mass within the spout 17, the air and liquid soap are combined and churned by the passage of the liquid and air through the porous or irregular canals of the sponge. Suitable sponge retaining pins 19 are provided within the spout to hold the sponge material in communication with the air and liquid ports 2O and 21, respectively.

The body 11 of the dispenser is tubular in form, containing an associated operating assembly adapted to guide a plunger 22 constituting the air and liouid soap pump elements of the assembly. The assembly comprises an air bushing 23 tapped into the body 11 and operatively held by a lock nut 24 seating against an underlying cup washer 25 supported upon the body 11 and designed to provide an air tight joint as will presently appear. Beneath the air bushing is positioned a soap bushing 26 for separating the liquid soap supply conduit portion 12 from the air bushing 23 above it, and designed to direct the flow of liquid soap to the lather generator means in the spout 17 through port 21. To prevent possible leakage of air to the soap bushing 26 or that of soap to the air bushin 28, a suitable cup washer 27 is interposed between these bushings and the plunger 22 as indicated in Figure 1.

The soap bushing 26 is supported upon a suitable gasket 28 resting upon annular ledge 29 of dispenser body 11 to prevent any flow of liquid soap when plunger head 30 is seated thereon, the gasket also serving as a stop for the plunger under pressure of spring 31 housed in supply conduit portion 12. To prevent rotation ot soap bushing 26 to insure proper registration of port 21 and lather generating material 18, the bushing is fitted with a protruding lug portion J2 positioned to engage contiguous body wall portions.

The plunger 22 is movable vertically along the axial center of the assembly and carries upon its upper end an inverted cup shaped hea d 33 designed to form with dispenser body portion l1, au air chamber 34 collapsible by pressure upon a superposed knob 35 tapped to receive the protruding threaded upper end The knob is formed with an opening 37 designed to register with a vent o ning 38 in the plunger stem and adapte to be closed by the hand of the user during the operation of depressing the head 33 for collapsing the air chamber 34. To provide an air tight joint with the wall of the plunger head` 33, the cup shaped washer 25 about the air bushing is expanded outwardly by spring washer 39 interposed between lock nut 24 and adjacent cup washer. Both lock nut and air bushing are formed with radial slots 40 in their upper faces to facilitate the assembling or removal of the several parts.

The air bushing 23 adjacent the plunger stem 22 is formed with an air passageway 41 communicating with the lather generating chamber in the spout 17. To prevent the liquid soap from flowing upwardly into and clogging the air passage 41, the adjacent portion ofthe bushing is fitted with an air check valve 42 made up of a band of rubber tubing or lil-:e material to cover opening 43 leading to the plunger stem 22 to permit the low of the air stream from the air-chamber 34 to the lather generating chamber 44 in the spout.

The plunger head 30 is held tightly against gasket 28 by the pressure of coiled spring 3l confined within the liquid .soap chamber 45 in supply conduit 12. rl`he chamber communicates with the supply line through port 4G which is held normally closed by a ball check valve 47 supplemented by a counter weight 48 and together adapted to prevent the passage of the liquid soap under` pressure of the head in the reservoir until the plunger 22 is depressed to cause a given amount of the liquid soap volume in the soap chamber to be displaced by the mass of Athe plunger stem unctioningas a simple force pump, whereuponvthe pressure of the head of liquid soap in the reservoir will be suilicient to displace the ball check valve and weight to permit a fresh inflow of liquid soap to the soap chamber to replace that fed to the lather generator chamber. Upon depression of the plunger, the lliquid soap is admitted to space 50 in the soap bushing 26 through a slight clearance between the bushing and plunger stem 22. This clearance is held to a minimum in order to prevent air from backing into soap supply chamber 45.

Assuming the parts to be in the operating condition shown and it is desired to obtain lather for washing purposes, the hand of the user is placed over the opening 37 in the knob 35 to close the opening. and thereby the air chamber 34. and the plunger depressed. lfith the hand in position above the opening in the knob the air thus held in the chamber will be forced through passageway 41 to the flexible air che' k valve 42. thence through port 20 to the lather generating sponge 18 in the spout. At the same time. the downward movement of the plunger 22 will unseat plunger head 30 from the gasket 28 and per- Gli form of lather.

mit the liquid soap displaced to enter chamber 50 in soap bushin 36 and be forced through port 21 into te lather generating sponge 18.

The liquid soap and air streams enter the sponde under pressure simultaneously, the soapzliquid being absorbed by the sponge and held in suspension therein until broken down by the action of the accompanying air stream.

The air forces the liquid through the interstices and pores of the sponge to produce a continuous churning of the liquid as it progresses under pressure of the air stream until it issues in the form of lather of fine texture and proper consistency, and in quantity as desired. The mechanism has been `designed to provide an air stream of suiiicient duration for converting the quantity of soap liquid supplied to the sponge at each stroke of the plunger, and the mass of sponge material isproportioned to permit conversion of substantially the full volume of liquid delivered toit, to thereby avoid the issuance through the spout of any soap except in the As an alternative arrangement of the air chamber closure means, the modification indicated in Figures 2 and 3, provides for the initial depression of knob 135 to effect closure of air port 120 and subsequent depression of air chamber head 133 to force the confined air volume to the lather generating means in the spout. As in the first embodiment, the knob 135 is tapped to receive the threaded upper end 36 of the plunger stem 22 but dili'ers therefrom to the extent that it is formed with a hub portion 49 depending from its underside and adapted to enter central opening 51 in the head for engagement with a stop Wash- `er 52 also fitted to the stem.

The washer supports the air chamber head 133 with an inset gasket ringl protruding slightly7 above its upper side to insure engagement with the knob when depressed to close port 120. lVithin the area of the opening in ring 53, the chamber head 133 is perforated at 54 at points outside of the periph.- eral edge of underlying washer to establish communication with the air chamber. When knob is depressed as shown in Figure 3, air port 120 will close upon engagement of the knob with underlying gasket ring 53 on the chamber head. In other respects the operaliquid soap to said body, a housin mounted upon and definingv with said y an air chamber normally open to the atmosphere, an air bushing within said body and chamberproviding a passageway communicating with said lather generating means, a li uid soaplbushing within said body provi ing a passageway communicating with said lather generating means and supply conduit, a plunger supporting said housing and vertically operable in said bushings and de ressible to admit air and soap liquid to sai passageways respectively, and means associated Vith said housing for closing said air cham- 2. In a soap lather dispenser, the combination comprising a hollow body assembly including a discharge spout, lather generating means in said spout, a liquid soap supply conduit communicating with said body, a check valve in said conduit for admitting liquid soap to said body, a housing mounted upon and defining with said body an air chamber normally open to atmosphere, an

-air bushing within said body and chamber providing a passageway communicating with saidl lather generating means, a liquid soap bushing within said body providing a passageway communicating with said lather generating means and soap conduit, a plunger supporting said housing and vertically operable in said bushings and depressible to admit air and liquid to said passageways respectively, and an,opening in said plunger communicating with said chamber and the atmosphere adapted to be closed when said plunger is depressed.

3. In a soap lather dispenser, the combination comprising a hollow body assembly including a discharge spout, lather generating means in said spout, a liquid soap supply conduit communicating with said body, a check valve in said conduit for admitting liquid soap to said body, a housing movably mounted upon and defining with Asaid body an air chamber normally open to the atmosphere, an air bushing withinsaid body and chamber providing a passageway communicating with said lather generating means, a liquid soap bushing within said body providing a passageway communicating with said lather generating means and soap conduit, a plunger supporting said housing and vertically operable in said bushingsand depressible to admit air and liquid to said passageway, respectively, a knob capping said plunger overlying said chamber, and means in said conduit for yieldably supportingsaid plunger to normally maintain said knob in spaced i relation to said housing.

4. In a soap lather dispensing device, the combination comprising a hollow body including a discharge spout, a liquid soap supply conduit communicating with said body, a housing telescopically mounted upon and defining with said bod an air chamber open to the atmosphere, a p anger secured to said ,.'housin'g and movable vertically in said body 1o communicating respectively with said air chamber and supply conduit and both with said lather generating means, and sealing means associated wit said bushings and plunger to prevent commingling of liquid soap and air outside of the lather generating means.

In a soap lather dispensing device, the combination comprising a hollow body having a lateral discharge spout and an inward- 2o lv extending annular ledfve adjacent its lower side, a gasket upon said edge, a liquid soap bushing supported by said gasket, a packing washer in the upper side of said bushing, an air bushing tapped into the upper side of said body operatively engaging said washer and proportioned to project above said body, an expansible washer about said bushing, a nut threaded upon said bushing in locking relation to said washer, a housing telescopicalso ly mounted upon said body in frictional engagement, with said washer and defining with said body an air chamber normally open to the atmosphere and adapted to be closed when said housing is depressed, a plunger supporting said housing movable vertically and supported in said bushings and formed at its lower extremity for engagement with said gasket, a liquid soap supply conduit communicating with the lower side of said body adapted to receive said plunger, means within said conduit for yieldably' supporting said plunger, lather generating means in said spout, passageways in said air and liquid soap bushings terminating respectively in air and liquid soap supply ports open to said lather generating means and communicating with said air chamber and liquid soap conduit.

6. In a soap lather dispensing device, the

combination comprising a hollow body in-4 cluding a discharge spout, a liquid soap supply conduit communicating with said body, a ousing telescopically mounted upon and defining with said body an air chamber open to the atmosphere, a plunger secured to said housing movable vertically in said body and having means for entrapping the air in said chamber, means in the supply conduit for vieldably supporting said plunger, separate air and liquid soap bushings providing bearings for guiding said plunger, lather generating means in said spout, separate passageways in said bushings communicating respectively with said air chamber and supply conduit and both with said lather generating means, individual valves#controlling said assa wa s o rable by said plunger, and :Isiaalingge mganspebetween said bushings and plunger to prevent commingling of hqind soap and air outside of the lather generating means.

7. In a soap lather dispensing device, the combination comprising a hollow body including a discharge spout, -a liquid soap suppl conduit communicating with said body a housing telescopically mounted upon and defining with said body an air chamber open to the atmosphere and adapted to be closed when the housing is depressed, a plunger secured to said housing and movable vertically in said body, means in the supply conduit for yieldably supporting said plunger and housing, separate air and liquid soap bushings providing bearings for guiding said plunger, lather generating means in said spout, separate assageways in said bushings communicating respectively with said air chamber and supply conduit and both having supply port connection with said lather generating means, and means on the soap bushing engageable with adjacent body portions to prevent rotation of said bushing.

8. In a soap lather` dispensing device, the combination comprising a hollow body including a discharge spout, a liquid soap supply conduit communicating with said body, a housing telescopically mounted upon and defining with said body an air chamber, a plunger secured to said housing and having passageways connecting said air chamber with the atmosphere adapted to be closed to confine the air in said chamber when depressed, means in the supply conduit for yieldably supporting said plunger, separate air and liquid soap bushings providing bearings or guiding said plunger, lather generating means in said spout, separate passageways in said bushings communicating respectively with said air chamber and supply conduit and both with said lather generating means, individual valves controlling said passageways operable by said plunger, and sealing means between said bushings and plunger to prevent commingling of liquid soap and air outside of the lather Q'eneratin g means.

9. In a soap lather dispensing device of the class described, the combination comprising a hollow body and contained air and liquid soap bushing assembly, a spout on said body, lather generating means in said spout, a liquid soap conduit communicating with the underside of said body and the soap bushing, air and liquid soap passages in the respective bushings terminating in supply ports open to the lather generating means, a plunger vertically movable and guided in said bushings, spring means in the conduit for yieldably supporting said plunger, a housing supported for limited movement on said plunger and body and forming with the body an air chamber open to the atmosphere and communicating with said air bushing, of means for entrapping the air in said housin comprising an expansible washer on sai body adapted for frictional engagement with the inner wall of said chamber, a sealin ring upon said housing in concentric relation to said plunger, and a lun er knob fixed to the upper extremity of t e p unger and normally spaced above said sealing gasket to vent said housing and adapted, upon depression of the plunger against resistance of said s ring and expansible washer, to engage sai ring to seal the air chamber.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand this 20th day of June, 1929.

HAROLD w. HoLLANDs. 

